Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale[]
Russian Federation
Title
Medvedev Responds
Summary
Dmitri Medvedev, the President of Russia, laid out his plans to install missiles in Kaliningrad during his first state-of-the-nation address. This installation of missiles is in response to the United States recently installing anti-missile systems in the east of Europe. Medvedev accuses the United States of using the conflict in Georgia to bring NATO to Russia’s borders.
Analysis
Dmitri Medvedev discusses the new developments of the United States in the east of Europe, when he says, “The conflict in the Caucasus was used as a pretext for sending NATO warships to the Black Sea and then for the forceful imposition on Europe of American anti-missile systems, which in turn will require retaliatory measures by Russia” --- Russia sees that the United States is imposing its power in the east of Europe, so Russia must balance the new movement of the United States.
Even though the systems that the United States installed were anti-missile systems, they can still be used against Russia. Russia has fallen into the security dilemma and Medvedev is trying to pull his state out by balancing the United States’ power. Russia cannot allow the United States to put military systems in Europe without installing their own military systems.
Medvedev believes that the US installations in Europe were directed at the state of Russia. Russia is responding to the United States over-stepping their borders. By bringing NATO closer to Russia, Russia must respond. The United States is extending its power to a point where it must be stopped.
Perspectiver
Realist
In-Region URL
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/372152.htm
Out-of-Region URL
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Rusia/desplegara/misiles/cerca/Polonia/respuesta/escudo/antimisiles/EE/UU/elpepuint/20081105elpepuint_11/Tes
Submitted
November 7, 2008 at 07:47 am